Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 468
A hilly 15 km road cycling route from Pengam, Caerphilly County Borough through Gilfach, Bargoed and Aberbargoed, with 154 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 14.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 154 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 03 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Pengam
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 154 m
- 15 km
Route description
- Pengam
- Gilfach
- Bargoed
- Aberbargoed
- Brithdir
- Cwmsyfiog
- New Tredegar
- Tir-Phil
- Abertysswg
Starting near Pengam station, the route passes through Cefn Fforest, Gilfach and Bargoed by 2.8 km. It continues through Aberbargoed, Brithdir, Cwmsyfiog and New Tredegar before reaching Rhymney at 14.7 km. Elevation rises from 143 m near the start to 286 m near the finish, with 60% of climbing in the first half. The longest steep section over 5% gradient is 0.1 km at the start near km 0.
The surface is mainly paved (70%), with a small section of gravel or unpaved (1%) and 29% unmapped. The route follows a mix of paths (44%), cycle paths (33%), quiet streets (15%) and minor main roads (4%). Cycle lanes or paths cover 5.2 km. There is 0.6 km on main roads, some without cycle lanes.
Facilities include cafés and shops near Bargoed at 2.4-2.8 km with Morrisons supermarket and petrol station, Rossi Cafe and toilets. After Bargoed there is a 2.7 km stretch without cafes, shops or water until 5.6 km. Other cafés and pubs are near 7.5 km and 13.9 km. Stations at Bargoed (2.9 km) and Rhymney (13.5 km) offer bailout points. Nearby peaks include Twyn Cornicyll (8.3 km) and Twyn Abertysswg (11.2 km).
Highlights
- Route from Pengam to Rhymney
- Climb from 143 m to 286 m
- Near peak Twyn Cornicyll at 8.3 km
- Longest no shop stretch 2.7 km after 2.9 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map.
- Roads
- 44% path · 33% cycle path · 15% quiet street · 4% main road · 4% other roads and tracks
- Cycle paths
- 5.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Paved: 70% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 29% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 4% descending · 72% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 49 cafés and restaurants, 15 shops, 2 petrol stations and 1 public toilet.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 2.4 kmMorrisons · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 2.5 kmMorrisons · petrol station · on the route
- 2.8 kmRossi Cafe · café · 110 m off route
- 2.8 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 7 kmSheppard Pharmacy New Tredegar · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 7.5 kmHarvey's Cafe & Takeaway · café · on the route
- 12.5 kmRhymney Convenience Store · convenience store · 50 m off route
- 12.9 kmGulf · petrol station · 180 m off route
- 13.9 kmThe Brewery Club · pub · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 2.9 km — Bargoed (station), 60 m off route
- 13.5 km — Rhymney (station), 90 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.9 km — Bargoed Cenetaph War Memorial (monument)
- 8.3 km — Twyn Cornicyll (peak)
- 11.9 km — Mining Wheel (monument)
Stay after this ride
- The Rhymney House Hotel · hotel · 750 m from the finish
- Parc Bryn Bach · campsite · 2.6 km from the finish
- Tredegar Arms Hotel · hotel · 3.4 km from the finish
- James' Place @ Dowlais · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Pengam (420 m)
- Food and coffee
- Smiths Arms (160 m), Hong Kong Fish Bar (980 m)
- Shops
- JJs Gilfach (890 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Farmers Arms (370 m), The Brewery Club (780 m), Rhymney Oriental (420 m)
- Shops
- Premier - Rhymney Convenience Store (460 m)
Know before you go
- 2.7 km stretch without café, shop or water from 2.9 km to 5.6 km
- 0.6 km on main roads
- Steepest 500 m with 10.9% gradient at start
